Just got this restored banjo on ebay. Wyatt Fawley, in Pennsylania, restored it. We both believe it to be from the 1860s, based on the hand made hooks and nuts, and the way they are attached to the wooden pot. Wyatt had to steam the wooden pot back into round, and one of the hooks/nuts is a replacement. Original black paint is still on rimstick. Pot is hand sawed maple and neck is tight grwined walnut.
I haven't gotten this in the mail yet, but was wondering what the consensus is as to the… Continue

I was at a civil war event this past weekend. Elaine and I were contracted to do some performances and to do a school day presentation for 600 students. There was another musician there who was very talented, and could play a number of instruments. However...

He pulls out an 1890s banjo, and says that it is one. However he then says that this is the same as the banjos of the civil war era. He then told the kids he would play in a civil war era style, and proceeded to play in a…

Hi Everyone my name is Jason. I'm new here and I was wondering what is the difference in sound quality and craftsmanship between both makers of the Boucher minstrel banjo? I know the Hartel Boucher is more expensive, perhaps a little more modified then the Bell Boucher. Although Im new to the Victorian fretless banjo, I have been a musician for years. I would greatly appreciate any info on this topic.

I'm having a hard time finding a bridge for this Stewart. It's set up with 1 7/8 X 7/16" bridge, skin head, nylon strings. The action is way too low. It looks like I'll need 1/2" or 17/32" . I understand poplar is best for this set up. Would this be a custom made bridge ? Can I get ahold of a blank and file/sand it to size?

I perform in a trio that plays music ranging primarily from 1800 to 1864 - some earlier, none later. Our instrumentation is minstrel banjo, romance guitar, and violin. We perform in a number of different locations throughout the course of a year, many of which are outdoors, and many of which involve large numbers of people.

Performing outdoors is bad enough - we perform mainly in the very flat land of Louisiana and Arkansas and Mississippi, so there is rarely…

I have been working hard on my download site, and here is where it is so far. 15 Cd's covering ALL the Early Banjo material for $5.00 ( and a Ning discount on top of that - Code is Ning25 ) as well as digiitzed documents. I have the Early Banjo Primer, which is your guide to getting started. As I always claim, that book is not my own original thought, but rather an alignment of the exisitng concepts that communicate the style of play.…

“Mr. Welch did a great job presenting information about the Civil War through stories and songs. The students and staff gave him a great evaluation!” Susan Roegge-Special Education Department Chair Turner Jr. High Jacksonville, IL.

“The reviews of your assemblies here at Roosevelt have been OUTSTANDING! The teachers thought it was great, and my eighth grade daughter, who never talks about anything school related, was talking about it that night at the supper table. She really enjoyed it!” Jeffrey J. Johll Assistant Principal/Activities Director Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School. Dubuque, IA.

“Bob Welch’s “Songs of the Civil War” performance was a treat! Bob kept them engaged and kept the questions coming, helping our students to remain involved and to delve even deeper into our country’s history from a fresh perspective. I would recommend this program to any teacher looking to bring an enlightening and entertaining discussion to their classroom.” Kim Forbes Taft Alternative Middle School Cedar Rapids, Iowa